Monday, 12 January 2015

Charlie Hebdo Reading List

In a moment of remembrance and honour for
the victims of the terrible events that occurred in Paris this past Wednesday -
Friday, I've started a list of media articles that I consider most
representative of the situation at hand. This is not inclusive and will be
updated from time to time.

The Union of Islamic Organisations of
France, an organisation representing over 250 Muslim organisations in France,
condemns the Charlie Hebdo attacks. UOIF also participated in the remembrance
march of 11 January in Paris.

“Charlie
Hebdo attacks are totally divorced from the teachings of Islam, its general
spirit, and its sublime objectives. Islam protects people’s lives,
properties, and honor. Attacking even a single human is regarded by Islam as
grave and heinous as killing all innocent people of the world. The Qur’an
reads, {Whosoever kills a human being for other than manslaughter or corruption
in the earth, it shall be as if he had killed all mankind, and whoso saves the
life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind.}
(Al-Ma’idah 5: 32)”

Anne Penketh reviews statements made by Elsa Wolinski,
daugther of George Wolinski who was killed in the Charlie Hebdo attack. She has
posted a poignant post on Istagram: “Dad is gone, not Wolinski”. (Shown in photo, above).

Steven Erlanger and Katrin Bennhold provide
a summary perspective on the threats to European societies of Islamic
integration, immigration and terrorism, and the tensions between a secular
society and religious extremism.

Miriam
Krule explores some of Charlie Hebdo’s covers and the meanings behind them.
This article would be better if it included additional covers satirizing other
faiths. Charlie Hebdo has published content ridiculing Christianity, Judaism,
women, politicians, “Europe” and many others.

Adam Gopnik writes on the satirical tradition of Charlie
Hebdo in France: “The magazine was
offensive to Jews, offensive to Muslims, offensive to Catholics, offensive to
feminists, offensive to the right and to the left, while being aligned with
it—offensive to everybody, equally.”

I am continually reminded of what a
magnificent document the United States Constitution is. The First Amendment
reads:

Congress
shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the
free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or
the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government
for a redress of grievances.

In an age of social and mainstream media
incoherence, trolling, national security restrictions, political correctness,
and self-censorship, it is vital that the right to free speech, no matter how
difficult and caustic, is upheld.

Subscribe via email

Comments on the Blog

I will post any and all comments to this blog, providing they respond to a specific post in a relevant manner, do not contain profanity or ad hominem attacks, and otherwise contribute to civilised discourse. If you do post a comment, please include your email if you wish a response - Blogger does not provide email addresses otherwise.